Even if Federer doesn't win Wimbledon, it's not a bad sign for the US Open (considering what happened the last 2 years, where he matched Djokovic completely at the US Open, after QF exits at Wimbledon).

But there haven't been any unexpected winners so far in the slams. Djoko won the slam he's won 3 times, Australian Open. Rafa Nadal won the slam he's won 7 times, Roland Garros. Wimbledon will likely be Djoko winning (defending champion). No surprises yet..

Given his drought, I think Federer winning the US Open would qualify as a surprise, compared to Djoko or Rafa Nadal winning it..

But there haven't been any unexpected winners so far in the slams. Djoko won the slam he's won 3 times, Australian Open. Rafa Nadal won the slam he's won 7 times, Roland Garros. Wimbledon will likely be Djoko winning (defending champion). No surprises yet..

Given his drought, I think Federer winning the US Open would qualify as a surprise, compared to Djoko or Rafa Nadal winning it..

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So I'm not sure why you think Fed is a better winner. Personal bias? Wishful thinking? Fed never took a set from Djokovic this year, and trumping Fed in straight sets makes Djokovic the better player. Match points mean nothing if you do not win.

So I'm not sure why you think Fed is a better winner. Personal bias? Wishful thinking? Fed never took a set from Djokovic this year, and trumping Fed in straight sets makes Djokovic the better player. Match points mean nothing if you do not win.

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What do you mean? You just quoted this:

"Given his drought, I think Federer winning the US Open would qualify as a surprise, compared to Djoko or Rafa Nadal winning it.."

When did I say Federer is a "better winner"? I said Federer winning the US Open would qualify as a surprise. Whereas Nadal/Djoko winning the US Open would not qualify as a surprise. What part of this don't you understand?

"Given his drought, I think Federer winning the US Open would qualify as a surprise, compared to Djoko or Rafa Nadal winning it.."

When did I say Federer is a "better winner"? I said Federer winning the US Open would qualify as a surprise. Whereas Nadal/Djoko winning the US Open would not qualify as a surprise. What part of this don't you understand?

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Hi NSK, why is it that a five time champion winnning US Open a surprise while a guy who has one it only once, Rafa winning it does not qualify as a surprise? Could you please enlighten me?

Last 2 years, had a combined 4 match points vs prime Djoko. Now Federer has improved, so should have the US Open this year, no?

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Djokovic isnt Federer's only potential obstacle at the U.S Open. Most likely he would have to beat both Djokovic and Nadal, and he hasnt beaten Nadal in any slam since 2007. A Rosol like miracle isnt going to happen everyday. Besides those two though there is also Andy Murray, Juan Martin Del Potro, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, and possibly Tomas Berdych as potential major threats, especialy to Federer.

Federer is playing better than last year overall, and Djokovic is probably playing less well, and Djokovic still is dominating his matches with Federer more than last year. So it isnt as simple as you make it out to be, things do always follow the A, B, C logic.

Djokovic isnt Federer's only potential obstacle at the U.S Open. Most likely he would have to beat both Djokovic and Nadal, and he hasnt beaten Nadal in any slam since 2007. A Rosol like miracle isnt going to happen everyday. Besides those two though there is also Andy Murray, Juan Martin Del Potro, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, and possibly Tomas Berdych as potential major threats, especialy to Federer.

Federer is playing better than last year overall, and Djokovic is probably playing less well, and Djokovic still is dominating his matches with Federer more than last year. So it isnt as simple as you make it out to be, things do always follow the A, B, C logic.

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Djokovic and Nadal are still the favorite for the US Open, no doubt about that.

"Given his drought, I think Federer winning the US Open would qualify as a surprise, compared to Djoko or Rafa Nadal winning it.."

When did I say Federer is a "better winner"? I said Federer winning the US Open would qualify as a surprise. Whereas Nadal/Djoko winning the US Open would not qualify as a surprise. What part of this don't you understand?

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Look at your title, and my condolence for your loss (of memory). Which part of the title you wrote don't you understand?

Federer has not improved this year. He is not a better player. His movement is not what it used to be and he's no where near as consistent. What's helping him is a renewed resolve to win a slam and his all-out aggressive tactics are helping him do that. We'll see how the USO pans out when we get there, but for now, aren't we just beginning the second week of another slam which Federer is still competing in?

Cool, but even if he is better than last year, he still won't win, because he has to be better than Djokovic, which he is not.

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If Federer has improved this year, that could be enough to convert a matchpoint (or to keep a lead). It's no fluke that he held 2 matchpoints last year (because he had 2 matchpoints the year before too). A thrilling 5-setter is the "norm" for the Federer Djokovic US Open matchup. Expect nothing less this year. And if Federer has improved (and if the forum observations are true and Djokovic has declined) then why can't Federer win the US Open this year?

Federer has not improved this year. He is not a better player. His movement is not what it used to be and he's no where near as consistent. What's helping him is a renewed resolve to win a slam and his all-out aggressive tactics are helping him do that. We'll see how the USO pans out when we get there, but for now, aren't we just beginning the second week of another slam which Federer is still competing in?

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Yeah but I don't think Federer can beat Djokovic on grass. The surface is skidding enough to make Djokovic's shots too much to handle for Federer. I think Djokovic will win their Wimbledon semi-final, without a doubt.

Yeah but I don't think Federer can beat Djokovic on grass. The surface is skidding enough to make Djokovic's shots too much to handle for Federer. I think Djokovic will win their Wimbledon semi-final, without a doubt.

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Actually faster surfaces help Federer. WIth that said, Djokovic is just at another level. It really doesn't matter what surface they are on.

Actually faster surfaces help Federer. WIth that said, Djokovic is just at another level. It really doesn't matter what surface they are on.

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Nah, you watch, the Wimbledon semi will be really lopsided, while the US Open meeting will be as tight as hell. Federer can't play on grass anymore vs power shots, see Berdych 2010 and Tsonga 2011 (and Benn 2012, before Benn lost his mojo/physicality). Even if Federer is marginally better this year, he is still not great on grass when confronted with power. Djokovic has enough power to put Federer on the backfoot on grass. Whereas the US Open puts the ball in Federer's hitting zone.

Only for you, not for others. The guy whom you says "he is gonna lose in three sets", is a six time champion here. I feel Roger has more chances to win, but that's me

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Those days are long gone, and 3 of those Wimbledon finals he won were vs Roddick (including a very close 2009 final), and a couple were vs young Nadal. That's 5 of his 6 titles, so I think we can see how the level of competition is quite different today. Guys hitting harder off the ground now (Tsonga, Berdych, Djokovic).

Those days are long gone, and 3 of those Wimbledon finals he won were vs Roddick (including a very close 2009 final), and a couple were vs young Nadal. That's 5 of his 6 titles, so I think we can see how the level of competition is quite different today. Guys hitting harder off the ground now (Tsonga, Berdych, Djokovic).

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I bet you that prime Roddick would school those 3 on (halfdecent) grass, except for maybe Djoker 2.0 just because of sublime confidence, but this year's djoko would have a really tough time.

These dreamer fed threads never stop, he is done winning majors but the fed fans cannot accept it. How many of these threads have there been in the last couple of years? Fed is better now than ever and on +on.

He has not won a major in years rarely ever makes a final, but yet again this year he is a better player. It gets beyond ridiculous, but keep it up because it never hurts to dream.

These dreamer fed threads never stop, he is done winning majors but the fed fans cannot accept it. How many of these threads have there been in the last couple of years? Fed is better now than ever and on +on.

He has not won a major in years rarely ever makes a final, but yet again this year he is a better player. It gets beyond ridiculous, but keep it up because it never hurts to dream.

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Yeah, Federer is better this year than last year, without a doubt. That is the intention of the title. Federer is a better player this year than he was last year. And because he had 2 matchpoints vs Djokovic last year at the US Open, he has an excellent chance this year at the US Open.

Yeah, Federer is better this year than last year, without a doubt. That is the intention of the title. Federer is a better player this year than he was last year. And because he had 2 matchpoints vs Djokovic last year at the US Open, he has an excellent chance this year at the US Open.

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But then what happens if Federer were to lose to Djokovic without getting even a single MP at the USO this year?

Again, I don't see how Federer's improved "where it matters". His slam results haven't been as good as last year's (2011 AO SF and RG F compared to 2012 AO SF and RG SF). He's still only made it to the fourth round of Wimbledon, so let's not pretend he's already made it past the quarters, a place he hasn't advanced past in three years.

But then what happens if Federer were to lose to Djokovic without getting even a single MP at the USO this year?

Again, I don't see how Federer's improved "where it matters". His slam results haven't been as good as last year's (2011 AO SF and RG F compared to 2012 AO SF and RG SF). He's still only made it to the fourth round of Wimbledon, so let's not pretend he's already made it past the quarters, a place he hasn't advanced past in three years.

I don't see how he's better.

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Anything is possible, obviously. Not sure what you are asking though when you say "what happens"...

Federer was better at the Australian Open this year.
Federer was better at Roland Garros last year.
And Federer was better at the non-slams this year.